German Chancellor Friedrich Merz is urging Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to be included in US President Donald Trump's talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Merz also announced that he wants to speak to Trump on the phone on Sunday about the summit in Alaska planned for next Friday, TASR reports, citing the DPA agency.

"At the European level, we are intensively preparing for this meeting together with the US government," Merz told ARD television. He said he expected Zelensky to attend the talks. He also expressed hope that a ceasefire would be decided at the summit.

"In any case, we cannot accept that Russia and America talk or even decide on territorial issues without the knowledge of the Europeans, without the knowledge of the Ukrainians. I assume that the American government sees it the same way," said the German Chancellor. According to him, Europeans cannot be"spectators" when it comes to a key strategic issue for the future of Europe.

Trump and Putin will talk in the US state of Alaska on Friday, August 15, about a possible peaceful resolution to Russia's three-and-a-half-year war with Ukraine. Zelensky, who is not invited, like Western partners, fears that Ukraine will be decided without its participation.